DuPont Elastomers begins Neoprene expansion in Louisiana

LaPlace, Louisiana - DuPont Performance Elastomers L.L.C. has broken ground on a $50 million expansion of its polychloroprene capacity at its Pontchartrain Works in LaPlace, according to the company.

While there was no immediate word as to exact capacity increases at the Pontchartrain plant, the expansion is designed to allow production of a broader range of Neoprene - DPPE's brand name for polychloroprene products - there, according to a company spokeswoman.

"This is another step in the consolidation phase," she said, adding that DPPE still plans to close its Neoprene plant at Louisville in March 2007, as scheduled. She didn't say when the expansion would come online, but a newspaper report said production should begin sometime in the middle of 2007.

The United Steelworkers union, meanwhile, is still fighting to keep the Louisville plant open.

"I think there's always hope until they shut the plant down," said James Briggs, a USW International staff representative. "The Louisville facility is the most versatile Neoprene plant in the United States."

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)